Moving Through the Zones

A Guide for Leading so Both People & Purpose Thrive

Moving Through the Zones is a people-centered leadership framework designed to help mission-driven organizations name where they are, reflect on what’s working (and what’s not), and intentionally build the conditions where both people and purpose can thrive. Rooted in research, sharpened by practice, and made memorable through metaphor, this framework helps leaders examine four essential dimensions of leadership —

— and understand how leadership actions move each of them forward (or backward).

VISION

TRUST & BELONGING

COLLABORATION

GROWTH

A Look Inside the Framework:

TRUST & BELONGING

The organization operates as an intentional community of deep trust and belonging. Differences are embraced. People feel seen, valued, and empowered to contribute fully. Leadership and team members share ownership for sustaining a culture of trust, care, and inclusion, modeling authentic belonging to stakeholders and community.

Zone 5: "Chosen Family" - The Deep Trust & Belonging Zone

What You’d See, Hear, or Experience:

How to Move Through the Zones: *Some Tools, Skills, and Resources

• Emotionally Intelligent Leadership

• Psychological Safety Assessment

• “Care Conversations”

• Communication Structures

• Effective Feedback Loops

I was a great teacher, award-winning even. And when I became a school leader, I had that strong track record as a teacher and instructional coach. I knew how to lead a data meeting. I knew how to coach a teacher. I could script checks for understanding in my sleep.

But I didn’t know how to build trust alongside hard decisions.
I didn’t know how to lead through tension without losing people.
I didn’t know how to design a culture where adults grew, stayed, and genuinely thrived.

Like so many school and nonprofit leaders, I stepped into leadership because I was great at the work, but leadership turned out to be a whole new job, and I made a ton of mistakes learning that the hard way.

So I built something I wish I had back then, so you don’t have to do the same.

And no, it’s not perfect. But waiting for perfect can stand in the way of useful. So I’m letting this work do its thing for the people who need it now.

My ask is that if you think it’s useful, you share it with other leaders, and you help me make it betterWhat resonates? What’s missing? What’s useful to you? What’s not?

The goal is simple: help leaders build cultures where people and purpose thrive.
If you have questions, are interested in using it with your team, or are interested in building on it, reach out. I'd love to talk.

• Staff consistently report feeling safe, valued, and heard

• Full participation across diverse voices

• Difficult conversations happen with care and respect

• A culture of trust and inclusion is shared and sustained

How Can I Help?

Leadership and Principal Coaching

Professional Development

Need something that's not listed?

Let's talk about how I can help.

Impactful coaching does more than shift behaviors and plans. Good coaching is transformative to underlying beliefs and ways of being. Only then does meaningful and lasting improvement happen. Boost your educational or social impact with leadership coaching.

I offer workshops and seminars on the following or a customizable session based on your organization's needs.

• Adaptive Leadership

• Transformational Coaching

• Building Effective and Efficient Cross-Functional Teams

• Effective Inquiry-based Learning

• Change Management

Custom Support

Organizational and Strategic Consulting

Every organization achieves exactly the results it is designed to achieve. If you want different results, you need different organizational systems. I can help diagnose, plan, and implement organizational improvements like operationalizing values-aligned structures to scale or evolve your systems, build efficient and effective cross-functional collaboration, or strategic planning.

Testimonials

Mandisa Brudey,

Elementary School Principal & Coachee

Jodi Nussbaum

Board Chair of People's Prep & COO at Tinkercast

“Keith was so good at guiding me in analyzing old habits and developing new ones that stuck and really influenced change. He also listens carefully to understand my needs and help me solve my problems.”

"In what could have been a completely chaotic time, Keith not only kept all the spinning plates from falling, he made it look easy. We were planning for a merger, buying a building, preparing for a capital campaign, and running a school. Keith kept the stakeholders engaged but not distracted, made sure the leadership team and board were on the same page and well-equipped to navigate the massive changes, and balanced acknowledging what had been while launching what was coming."

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